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| Fishermen of An Hai Commune in Ly Son Island District in the central province of Quang Ngai prepare for a fishing trip |
Dr Le Xuan Sinh from Hai Phong-based
Institute of Marine Environment and Resources said
that green economies helped improve living standards and social equality as
well as reducing environmental risks and ecological deficiencies.
Sinh said that people living on
islands often faced disadvantages in economic conditions, healthcare, education
and other public services.
He said economic activities were
usually spontaneous and did not follow any sustainable models. This resulted in
poor quality of living standards or islanders were vulnerable to risks of
natural disasters and diseases.
“The disadvantages are why there is
migration to the mainland. Islands often
cannot attract people to live there,” Sinh said.
“Once green economic models are
implemented, islanders could better their livelihood and their resilience to
climate-change impacts," Sinh said.
"Or at least, they could manage
by themselves for a time if the islands are isolated because of natural
disasters,” Sinh said.
He said that it was necessary to
develop green economy models accompanied by green production and services.
Environmental conservation and protection would also ensure bio-diversity in
order to have sustainable development.
In addition, aquaculture production
must use advanced environmentally friendly technologies while eco-tourism
should be made a key industry.
For example, Viet Hai island commune
on the east of Cat Hai island district, is the third largest island in Vietnam.
There are 88 families or 270 people living on the island, but there is no
market. Agricultural production is small and spontaneous, unable to provide
enough food for islanders. Most of the food is from the mainland.
Sinh said that the island commune
should concentrate on community tourism or home-stay accommodation to take
advantage of its location in Cat Ba Nature Reserve. Organic agriculture was
another option.
Meanwhile, he said Nhon Chau island
commune in the central province
of Binh Thuan should take
advantages of its beautiful beaches. Eco tourism with sight seeing, diving and
fishing would attract visitors. High-tech agriculture should be applied to provide
enough food to islanders and visitors as 90 percent of soil on the island is
unproductive.
According to the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Environment, Vietnam
has more than 3,000 islands and islets with a total area of about 1,700 sq.km.
Of those, three islands have more than 100 sq.km each, including Phu Quoc
island in southern Kien Giang province, Cai Bau island in Quang Ninh province
and Cat Ba island in Hai Phong city. Twenty three islands have an area of 10
sq.km, 82 islands have 1 sq.km each. About 1,400 islets have not been named.
Groups of islands are said to have
potential to become marine economic hubs and logistic centers for on-sea
activities, including fishing or tourism. The islands together can create
strategic areas to boost socio-economic development, ensure national defense
and security.
Island economies could become
“pillars for development” spreading development to surrounding areas. In
addition to values of landscapes, the marine resources around the islands are
crucial to fishing industry and sea tourism.
While more than 200 islands and
islets in the country are said to be livable, just 66 have residential areas
with populations in 2010 of about 240,000 people.
There are another 2,800 islands and
islets unsuitable for human daily life or production.
Source: VNA